Bill To Protect Freedom of Speech Online Heads to President's Desk

Press Release

Congressman Darrell Issa released the following statement after the Senate passed and sent to the President's desk for approval a bill to protect Freedom of Speech online. Congressman Darrell Issa is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which contains many of the provisions from his Consumer Review Freedom Act which he introduced last year.

The Consumer Review Fairness Act, which now heads to the President's Desk for approval, is needed after a number of consumers have found themselves in court, fighting multi-million dollar lawsuits for leaving negative -- but truthful -- reviews of companies' services on sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor. The legislation will outlaw the use of "gag clauses" in non-negotiable form contracts which have attracted national scrutiny after some business have used gag clauses to punish or silence honest criticism of products and services.

"The internet is supposed to be an open-forum for the free exchange of ideas of all kind," said Congressman Darrell Issa. "But how free is that exchange, really, if it's been cherry-picked and censored to weed out things some people find unfavorable? The bill we've now sent to the President's desk will ensure that the internet remains a place where the freedom of speech can thrive and protect honest consumers from retaliatory litigation. I thank Congressman Lance, Senator Thune and our colleagues in the Senate for helping advance this important reform. The President should sign this bill into law immediately to protect and freedom and openness of the internet."

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